Last Updated: October 6, 2009

West Virginia

State Coordinator(s)

West Virginia Bureau for Children and Families
Christina Bertelli
Chafee Program Manager
350 Capitol Street
Room 691
Charleston, WV 25301-3704
Phone: (866) 720-3605
Fax: (304) 558-4563
Email: Christina.M.Bertelli@wv.gov

2009 Chafee Allocation

$1,182,292

2009 ETV Allocation

$397,568

Number of youth 16-21 (most current AFCARS data -2006)

1024

State's Chafee Mission Statement

West Virginia Chafee Community Support Services is committed to ensuring that foster care youth and former foster care youth have the necessary supports and skills needed to make a successful transition from foster care to self-sufficiency.

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Children and Families is committed to ensuring that children in out-of-home care and their families receive adequate and appropriate services that best meet their needs for safety, permanency, and well-being.

Who is Eligible for Chafee Services?

Individuals that are or were in the custody of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources on or after their 18th birthday and that are or were living in a foster care home or a group residential treatment facility on or after their 18th birthday.

What is the State's Definition of Room and Board?

Room and board is defined as living facilities and food.

Maximum Age that Youth may Remain in Care

No additional information is available.

Under what Conditions Can a Youth Remain in Care Beyond 18?

If in school, a TLP, or employed. Since many foster children have not completed their education by the time they reach their eighteenth (18th) birthday, they have an incentive to remain in foster care. Boarding care may be continued for foster children from age eighteen (18) through age twenty (20) under the following conditions:

the young adult requests continued financial supports after receiving a clear explanation of his right to independence and responsibility for self-support at age eighteen; and
the young adult will continue his education (college, vocational, or training) and plans to continue his current enrollment, or plans to enroll in a different school or training program within the next three (3) months.

If a youth desires to remain in foster care after receiving an explanation of the situation, he must agree to sign a voluntary placement agreement (SS-FC-18). The agreement is a contract between the youth and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources which stipulates the conditions for continued foster care services.

Is the Extended Medicaid Option Available for Youth Until 21?

All children up to the age of 21, who come into the custody of the Department and are placed in foster care, may be eligible for Continued Medicaid coverage upon discharge from a foster care placement. Children in the following placement types may be eligible for Continued Medicaid coverage: Department of Health and Human Resources foster/adoptive homes, therapeutic foster/adoptive homes, specialized family care (Medley), group residential, psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric treatment facilities, medical hospitals, trial adoptive homes, transitional living, emergency shelter care, family emergency shelter care, and schools for children with special needs (Romney School).

A child’s eligibility for Continued Medicaid coverage is initially determined by placement in one of the above mentioned settings. They are eligible, for Continued Medicaid coverage, from the date of placement for a continuous period of twelve months, whether or not they remain in placement. Eligibility will be re-determined during the child’s one year anniversary month, which is the child’s initial placement month. For a child to be eligible for another 12-month episode, they must be in a foster care placement and in the custody of the Department.

For children who come back into the care and custody of the Department during a Continued Medicaid Eligibility episode, the eligibility episode will not end and a new eligibility period start. The original eligibility episode will continue until the child’s anniversary month and then be re-determined for another 12-month period.

Can Youth in Care Get Driver’s Licenses?

Yes

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources will consider consenting for a Junior Operator’s License or Driver’s License for foster children between the ages of sixteen (16) and eighteen (18). In order for this consent to be given, the following must be completed:

There must be a general agreement on allowing the child to get a Junior Operator’s or Driver’s License between the child’s worker, the foster/adoptive parents or facility in which the child is placed, and the child’s parents if the child is in the temporary custody of the Department.
The child’s foster/adoptive parents or the facility must also be willing to provide a vehicle that is registered with the state Division of Motor Vehicles and has appropriate liability insurance.
When the above conditions are met, the Regional Director may sign the consent for the Junior Operator’s License or Driver’s License.

Does the State Offer Tuition Waivers for Foster Youth?

Yes

The following youth are able to receive tuition waivers for the purpose of attending a West Virginia public higher education institution: youth who graduated from high school, or passed the GED examination, while in the legal custody of the State Department of Health and Human Resources, was in foster care or residential care for at least one year immediately preceding graduation, applies for the waiver within two years of graduating from high school or passing the GED; and applies for other student financial aid, other than student loans, in compliance with federal financial aid rules, including the federal Pell Grant.